The next real thing after salvation which is the important thing is to grow spiritually. As what has been said in part 1, a Christian must read the bible, pray, attend a fellowship and witnessing all of them are basic part of Christian life so that a saved person can grow towards maturity in Christ.
Besides on those things needed in Christian spiritual growth, there is a very essential things that must be incorporate in Christian practical way of living. It is a vital things that a saved person is considered truly saved if it’s become his everyday life’s practices. The bible said, “This is how God's children and the devil's children are distinguished. No person who fails to practice righteousness and to love his brother is from God. Jn 3:10. Take note, to practice righteousness and not failing of doing it is a children of God-truly saved.
What exactly the righteousness a saved person should practice? There are actually a saved person can practically and exactly do the righteousness as in the following:
● By not lying. If someone claimed he is of God, have faith and truly saved take a look of what the bible said about lying.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:4
Whoever says, "I love God," but hates his brother is a liar. The one who does not love the brother whom he has seen cannot love a God whom he has not seen. 1Jn 4:20
But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death." Rev 21:8
● By not looking to the opposite sex lustfully. To look with a lust to an opposite sex is the same as adultery.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You must not commit adultery.' But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mat 5:27-28
● By not stealing even it is small of value. Those who steal is called a thief-like Judas (John 12:4-6)
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings Mal 3:8
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, 5 or as a busybody in other men's matters. 1Pe 4:15
●By not easily get angered. Are you a hot tempered person and quick to be angry? Do you harbor hatred, bitterness, wrath, indignation, revenge towards others? If so then you are a murderer-not truly saved.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 1Jn 3:15
Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. 1Pe 4:15
Are you a real Christian and claimed you are truly saved or even eternally saved? First of all before you say yes, face yourself to the mirror of the ten commandments and ask yourself the following questions:
Is there some lie I told about last week, last month or last year?
Am I still looking my eyes with lust to opposite sex?
Did I steal something (from my place of work, office, school from someone) even if it is small of value? Did I rob God? Mal.3:10
Am I still holding grudges, bitterness, revenge, wrath, indignation to someone?
Therefore, in all of the above, it is very essential that after a person got saved he should practice and practice and practice and keep on practicing the righteousness(which is of God) that surpass the righteousness of Pharisees (self-righteous) until he become so well used to it.
Again, let me repeat, to practice righteousness and not failing of doing it is a children of God-truly saved.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
After Salvation, What is the next real thing? Part 1
“O taste and see that the Lord is good”(Psa 34:8). Indeed, when a person got saved he received a “taste of heaven”. It tastes something different that a saved person cannot express what an awesome and unspeakable joy it is. That was we experience when we accepted the gift of salvation because along with that gift was a deep sense of joy far from the things of this world has to offer.
However, as the days pass by, we notice a change in our feeling, the “taste” that bring joy in our heart were gone. Our joy suddenly turns into mourning because of many unpleasant things happening in our life as being a follower of Christ. Jesus said, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Mat 10:38.
We must not be surprised, the cross symbolized hardship and suffering. After you taste heaven you now come to take the cross and follow Jesus and that is something called a taste of a little bit of hell here on earth. After salvation, what is the next real thing? Absolutely it is the things you will not expect. There will be persecution, insults, false accusation and other evil manner because you are in Christ (Mat 5:11) and that is suffering. Those are the cross (suffering) that you must carry wherever you are.
There is a paradox here a saved person should see and understand. You must really suffer to have a real joy. Yes! You must suffer as a Christian that differs from non Christian. It means because of you are in Christ, belong to him you are being persecuted, insulted and laugh at. If that so, then rejoice and be glad for you are as what the bible describe was blessed, “
"How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me! Mat 5:11.
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God is resting on you. Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not feel ashamed, but glorify God with that name. 1Pe 4:14-16
To be persecute, insult, mock, laugh at you and say evil of you because you are in Christ are something that was not enjoyable in the natural sense. But if we look at it beyond of what our eyes could see and beyond of what we feel, those things will be a truly thrilling and exciting experience. And faith is the important substance to have that wondrous experience. Faith is the assurance of things we hope for, the certainty of things we cannot see” Heb 11:1 . We must see, feel, and taste beyond of what the natural man senses naturally which is of the flesh and carnal.
We cannot see beauty in suffering and we have no assurance when things get tough around us but because of the faith we have in God all things turn upside down. Whatever circumstances good or bad it ends up all for our own good (Rom 8:28). When we suffer for Christ sake we should be happy not because we are pretending or trying to be happy but it is because of the “Spirit of Comfort” which is the Holy Spirit moving and working in a very special way within us.
Initially, after salvation, what is the next real thing? Take the cross, and you must claimed by faith that you are blessed if you suffer for His name sake (Mat 5:11). Of course, it will only takes place when you regularly read the bible, pray, fellowship and testify about Christ. Keep these in mind and keep doing about all these things so God will give you the divine enablement to become happy even in the midst of all odds.
However, as the days pass by, we notice a change in our feeling, the “taste” that bring joy in our heart were gone. Our joy suddenly turns into mourning because of many unpleasant things happening in our life as being a follower of Christ. Jesus said, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Mat 10:38.
We must not be surprised, the cross symbolized hardship and suffering. After you taste heaven you now come to take the cross and follow Jesus and that is something called a taste of a little bit of hell here on earth. After salvation, what is the next real thing? Absolutely it is the things you will not expect. There will be persecution, insults, false accusation and other evil manner because you are in Christ (Mat 5:11) and that is suffering. Those are the cross (suffering) that you must carry wherever you are.
There is a paradox here a saved person should see and understand. You must really suffer to have a real joy. Yes! You must suffer as a Christian that differs from non Christian. It means because of you are in Christ, belong to him you are being persecuted, insulted and laugh at. If that so, then rejoice and be glad for you are as what the bible describe was blessed, “
"How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me! Mat 5:11.
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God is resting on you. Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not feel ashamed, but glorify God with that name. 1Pe 4:14-16
To be persecute, insult, mock, laugh at you and say evil of you because you are in Christ are something that was not enjoyable in the natural sense. But if we look at it beyond of what our eyes could see and beyond of what we feel, those things will be a truly thrilling and exciting experience. And faith is the important substance to have that wondrous experience. Faith is the assurance of things we hope for, the certainty of things we cannot see” Heb 11:1 . We must see, feel, and taste beyond of what the natural man senses naturally which is of the flesh and carnal.
We cannot see beauty in suffering and we have no assurance when things get tough around us but because of the faith we have in God all things turn upside down. Whatever circumstances good or bad it ends up all for our own good (Rom 8:28). When we suffer for Christ sake we should be happy not because we are pretending or trying to be happy but it is because of the “Spirit of Comfort” which is the Holy Spirit moving and working in a very special way within us.
Initially, after salvation, what is the next real thing? Take the cross, and you must claimed by faith that you are blessed if you suffer for His name sake (Mat 5:11). Of course, it will only takes place when you regularly read the bible, pray, fellowship and testify about Christ. Keep these in mind and keep doing about all these things so God will give you the divine enablement to become happy even in the midst of all odds.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Legitimate Sign a Saved Person is Truly a Children of God.
There is another indication or a sign that a saved person (those who claimed they are truly saved/eternally saved) might not be children of God at all-not saved at all.
The Bible said, “ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons”. Heb 12:7-8 NKJV
Chastening of God the Father is a legitimate sign that a person is truly saved. Those who claimed that they are children of God but not experiencing a chastening then accordingly the bible said they are illegitimate and not sons-not saved.
Chastening of God comes in different forms as of what like happens to Job. He endures sufferings, insults from friends and from his own wife. And as God test Job, Abraham, Peter and all Israelites so a Christian too. In some degree or another and in different forms which God would allow to every Christian, will walk through which the bible said was on a narrow way.
Apostle Paul is a profound example who found out that to be chastened is good and profitable. He actually considers and turns those difficulties into his delights. He said that if not for the “thorn in the flesh” in which God allowed in Paul’s body he will surely become conceited.
Therefore, consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Stop complaining but keep praising and thanking the Lord in all circumstances.
God as our Father chasten or discipline us for our own good. Indeed it is unpleasant but we must endure it until we are well use not to disobey God but follow and obey him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.
The Bible said, “ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons”. Heb 12:7-8 NKJV
Chastening of God the Father is a legitimate sign that a person is truly saved. Those who claimed that they are children of God but not experiencing a chastening then accordingly the bible said they are illegitimate and not sons-not saved.
Chastening of God comes in different forms as of what like happens to Job. He endures sufferings, insults from friends and from his own wife. And as God test Job, Abraham, Peter and all Israelites so a Christian too. In some degree or another and in different forms which God would allow to every Christian, will walk through which the bible said was on a narrow way.
Apostle Paul is a profound example who found out that to be chastened is good and profitable. He actually considers and turns those difficulties into his delights. He said that if not for the “thorn in the flesh” in which God allowed in Paul’s body he will surely become conceited.
Therefore, consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Stop complaining but keep praising and thanking the Lord in all circumstances.
God as our Father chasten or discipline us for our own good. Indeed it is unpleasant but we must endure it until we are well use not to disobey God but follow and obey him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.
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